Patent · US Active

Shifting diffractive optical element for adjustable depth sensing resolution

US10586342B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
0References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 2017
Grant dateMar 10, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 7, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/10152
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A depth camera assembly for depth sensing of a local area includes a structured light generator, an imaging device, and a controller. The structured light generator illuminates a local area with structured light and includes an illumination source, a mounting element, and a diffractive optical element (DOE) mounted on the mounting element. The mounting element can have a plurality of adjustable positions relative to the illumination source based on emission instructions from the controller. The DOE generates, using light emitted from the illumination source, diffracted scanning beams that are projected as the structured light into the local area. A pattern of the structured light is dynamically adjustable and unique for each adjustable position of the mounting element. The imaging device captures image(s) of the structured light reflected from object(s) in the local area. The controller determines depth information for the object(s) based in part on the captured image(s).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.